Orcutt boy found to have explosives at home, school threat thwarted

August 27, 2026

By JOSH FRIEDMAN

Investigators seized two explosive devices that a boy had in his Orcutt area home, thwarting a potential threat to a school, according to the Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Office.

The investigation began on Aug. 18, when deputies received a report that a male juvenile had made concerning statements about harming others. Over the following several days, Sheriff’s Crisis Intervention Team (CIT) deputies reviewed the teen’s online activity and conducted a search of his home.

During the search, investigators found two explosive devices and identified an online connection between the juvenile and another juvenile in Illinois, who appeared to share similarly concerning interests.

On Aug. 22, the bomb squad responded to the home in the Orcutt area and safely recovered both explosive devices. The CIT worked concurrently with the boy’s family and health care providers to ensure the juvenile was connected with appropriate intervention services.

During the investigation, a CIT deputy who is cross-trained as a bomb technician provided expertise across both the behavioral health and public safety components of the case.

Officials noticed law enforcement in Illinois about the online connection that investigators uncovered. Local law enforcement in Illinois conducted an investigation and determined there was not an actionable threat.

Authorities notified the administrators of schools connected to the investigation. Because of the information obtained and the early containment of the potential threat, the sheriff’s office did not recommend that the schools initiate emergency safety protocols.

Sheriff’s officials say, when investigators identify an immediate or developing threat to a school campus, deputies work urgently with administrators to initiate appropriate safety measures and notify affected students, staff and families. In this case, intervention took place before school safety protocols were necessary, the sheriff’s office says.

The investigation into the case remains ongoing.